The American Anglican Council has applauded the "sound decision" by Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi of the Anglican Province of Kenya to appoint a suffragan bishop to oversee the province's US-based congregations.

The announcement that the Rev Bill Murdoch will be consecrated on 30 August "serves as one more important step toward the long-anticipated realignment of North American Anglicanism", the AAC said.

Rev Murdoch will join Rev Canon Dr Bill Atwood as a Suffragan Bishop of All Saints Cathedral Diocese, Nairobi, and serve international interests of the Anglican Church of Kenya including taking responsibility for care for the congregations and clergy in the USA under Kenyan jurisdiction.

The Rev Canon David Anderson, AAC president and CEO, said the consecration is "another step toward biblical orthodoxy in the United States and a sign of hope for those who fear their church is falling away from the true gospel of Jesus Christ".

Bishop-elect William Leo Murdoch has served as rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in West Newbury, Massachusetts for 14 years. Since January 2004, Murdoch has served as Dean of the New England Convocation of the Anglican Communion Network.

He has led in the reconciliation efforts among many of the continuing Anglican churches and serves on the Anglican Communion Network's church-planting task force.

Archbishop Nzimbi announced the future consecration of Rev Canon Dr Bill Atwood earlier this year.

The AAC has offered its support to Archbishop Nzimbi, along with other orthodox leaders who provide pastoral care in the US.

"Our prayer is that the faith and zeal of Global South leaders like Archbishop Nzimbi will spread through the American churches and result in a renewed dedication to the proclamation of the gospel, both domestically and abroad," Anderson said.

Anderson added that the AAC looks forward to future cooperation with the Kenyan coalition as well as with the Anglican Communion Network, Rwandan-affiliated Anglican Mission in the Americas and the Nigerian Convocation of Anglicans in North America, and with all other Anglican Common Cause Partners.